LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The dairying industry is breaking many records this ’season. With th\ splendid growth of feed supplies are very heavy. The Eltham Company is now making over 'five and a-half tons of butter—or more than 220 boxes—every day. —Argus. In reply to Cr. R. L. Parkin, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) stated at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that the report from Mr. Kissel! (public works engineer) concerning the proposed survey of power sources in connection with the hydro-electric works had not yet come to hand.

As the result of a report received by the New Plymouth Borough Council at last night’s meeting it was decided to communicate with a local firm asking them to show cause why their electrical installation should, not be disconnected. The report contairied charges of certain interferences in connection with the wiring, whereby current was being obtained at power rates, thus defrauding the council.

Members of the New Plymouth Borough Council will make a trial Tun in one of the new Birnie tram-cars to-day. At last night’s meeting a letter was read from the tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) stating he would be able to place a, car at the disposal of. the council and he understood members were desirous of seeing how the cars worked. He added that he hoped to have all three cars passed for traffic on Wednesday. The uses of silk are so many, especially during the summer season, that ladies will no doubt welcome the new shipment of Jap., Fuji and washing silks at Morey’s. Prices, as usual, are most moderate for these desirable fabries.

An Invercargill consumer of electricity recently was detected defrauding the corporation. By means of a clever attachment between his heating and lighting installations he was securing liis •lighting power at heating rates. He had been doing this for only a week when the meter reader discovered the fraud. At first it was intended to prosecute, but, in view of special circumstances it was decided not to take this step. A mushroom of exceptional size was brought to the Daily News Office yesterday. It measured 12 inches in diameter at the narrowest part and weighed 21bs. The stalk was over three inches long and its diameter at the base was 2 inches. October is a most unusual month for mushrooms to flourish, the season generally prevailing about February and March. The mushroom in question was found on the farm of Mr Ernest Rutting, at Oakura.

The central committee of the Melbourne butter retailers recently decided to recommend the trade to reduce the retail price of “ehoiceet” bulk butter, cash over counter, to Is 7d per lb, and of prints to Is Bd. At a special meet; ing of the Retail Master Dairymen’s Association in Melbourne it was decided to reduce the retail price of milk by -Jd a quart, making it 7d per quart, in conformity with wholesale rates.

For the year ended March 31, 1921, the gross expenditure of the Repatriation Department was £1,050,007, and repayments of loans and other credits £37-8,205, leaving a net expenditure of £671,802 for the year, which makes the total figures from the inception of the department up to March 31, 1921: Gross expenditure, £1.970,819; repayments, etc., £49’7.292; net expenditure, £l,473.527.

The prevalence of tuberculosis among many of the dairy herds of the South Wairafcapa district was alleged by a resident in cldse contact with the dairying industry, in the course of some remarks to a Masterton reporter. He stated that he had been astounded to notice the large number of milch cows suffering from this disease, and expressed the opinion that in the interests of human health many qf these animals should be destroyed. He suggested that a thorough inspection should be' made of the herds, with a view to culling out the diseased cows.

One of the Napier Harbor Board's dredges, whioh had been engaged during recent months in making a new channel for the -Tutaekuri River, sank in the river a few days ago. The dredge had just completed cutting through the Taradale Road, and was making its way through the temporary roadway in order to continue the river channel to the Kaiwaka dredge, when it foundered. It is now lying at the bottom of the river, which is 9ft deep at high water. The raising cf the dredge will take some little time, and the extenison of the Harbor Board’s work will be delayed.

The examination of the accounts of the Imperial Supplies Department has been continued by the Audit Office during the past year as previously, and while the business for the twelve months has added another large volume to its record, the figures for the year show a decline on the previous year, viz.: Expenditure for twelve months ended March 31, 1920, £37,181,640; and for the succeeding twelve months to March 31, 1021, .£24,500,923. These figures bring the total payment 4 from the commencement of the department’s operations to March 31 last to £157,592,163. A good deal of extra work was required of the branch during the period in cheeking the interim payments of surplus wool profits to farmers. The payments of these amounted to £1,616,069.

The Mayor of New Plymouth has received from the Thames Borough Council a letter of congratulation upon the splendid performances of the New Plymouth Band at the recent contest. The letter is from the town clerk and reads: “I am directed by his-Worship the Mayor to convey to you my council’s very hearty congratulations for the splendid performances of the New Plymouth Band and bandsmen during the recent contest here. The band’s rendering of the test hymn was in every way a worthy effort, and well deserving of the high position won. The large number of medals won by the individual members of the band speaks well for the careful training of the conductor and the special skill of the bandsmen. It is to be hoped your band will have a very successful future -and receive the assistance and encouragement that its services so greatly merit.” At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council it was decided to send the letter to the band.

Sunday was the seventh anniversary of the departure from the Dominion of the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Two troopships—the Waiinana and Star of india—which carried the Auckland contingent—left Auckland on the morning of September 24, 1914, but, under instructions from the Imperial authorities were recalled from sea by wireless message, and returned to port next morning. They left again on the afternoon of October 11, proceeding to Wellington, where they joined the vessels filled in southern ports. From Wellington, at 6 o’clock on the morning of October 16, the whole New Zealand force sailed for Egypt in ten troopships, escorted by four warships, three British and one Japanese. The Auckland Herald 'learns that while the wholesale prices of butter in Auckland and Dunedin were the same, namely, 2s a pound net for pats,* in Wellington and Christchurch the prices were Id a pound less. “The reason for this latter position, it was stated, is that -one Taranaki factory is attempting to establish a local connection upon the Wellington market, and its cut in price -has been met by f-ac-tories which for years have catered for the requirements of that market. This factory has also had its butter offered on the Christchurch market, resulting in old-established concerns in that centre also reducing the price to meet the competition. It only required similar action 'by a factory or factories in Auckland or in Dunedin to bring about lower prices in these two centres. The local market could not? be monopolised by any one factory, and there were at" least 50 factories in the Auckland province that would endeavor to secure a share of the local trade if convinced that it offered better value at the present local price than that which was expected from London returns when the new season’s butter was marketed there about the middle of November.” I Use “Fairy Wonder” washing -powder, and the beautiful snowy whiteness of your washing will excite the envy of your friend-s. No other washing powder on the market gets results like “Fairy.’’ No other compound is so economical in labor and fuel. Give it a trial. Ail grocers stock it. Nominations for the Labor Day sports, to be held on Western Park next Monday, have been extended to "Wednesday, October 19.

“While in England, America and Canada,” remarked the Prime Minister at the New Zealand Club luncheon at Wellington on Thursday, “I had hundreds of questions asked me about New Zealand rugs, and there was not one procurable in°the whole of my travels.” Mr. Massey suggested that New Zealand manufacturers should turn a little more attention to the production of rugs and blankets, with a view to meeting th 3 demand. It would be a splendid thing if everybody here made up their minds to wear clothes made from New Zealand wool for a few years to come. (Applause).

“Under the regulations, any hairdresser or barber applying petroleum spirit to the hair of any customer or person commits an offence, and is liable for every such offence to a fine of one hundred" pounds.” —The above is a. clause in the new regulations in connection with the 'Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act.

“Education is almost a fetish in India,” said Rev. A. W. Brough, of the London Missionary Society, to a Standard reporter last week. He mentioned the fact that this year no less than 63,000 native candidates would sit for the B.A. degree. The Indian people held persons of education and culture in great respect, and a missionary without a first-class education did not get very far and seldom gained the confidence of the natives.

Particulars of Rahotu sale and bull fair are advertised.

Men, buy your apparel requirements at the Melbourne’s Salvage Sale now and save money. For instance: Cream gaberdine tennis trousers, 17/6; wool socks, 1/9; President braces, 2/6; smart neglige shirts, 7/6; splendid all wool co-lon-ial tweed suits, 69/6; all wool trousers, 19/6, 21/- to 27/6.

Under the auspices of the Okato School Committee, a concert and dance is being held on Thursday to augment the funds for the purpose of purchasing a section for an additional playground. The performers include school children, adults, local talent, haka and poi dance by the Maoris. The object is worthy of the support of the residents of the district.